Israel-Iran latest: Ayatollah speaks on Israel strikes as one dead and dozens injured in bus stop ‘attack’

On the campaign trail this weekend, vice president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump briefly addressed Israel’s airstrikes on Iran military sites.

“Israel is attacking - we’ve got a war going on and she’s out partying,” Trump said at a rally in Michigan on Friday as Harris was holding an event with Beyonce in Texas.

Meanwhile, Ms Harris yesterday called for “de-escalation and not an escalation of activities in that region”.

“I feel very strongly, we as the United States feel very strongly that Iran must stop what it is doing in terms of the threat that it presents to the region and we will always defend Israel against any attacks by Iran in that way,” she told reporters in Michigan.

Iran’s president has warned against further attacks on his country after Israel launched pre-dawn airstrikes yesterday.

In a statement posted to X, president Masoud Pezeshkian offered his condolences to the families of the four soldiers killed in the attacks and said Iran would continue to defend itself.

“Enemies of Iran should know these brave people are standing fearlessly in defence of their land and will respond to any stupidity with tact and intelligence,” he said.

The Israeli military said its aircraft targeted facilities Iran used to make the missiles fired at Israel as well as other missile sites.

There was no indication oil or nuclear sites were struck, and Iran insisted the strikes caused only “limited damage”.

Iran’s foreign ministry issued a statement saying it “considers itself entitled and obligated to defend against foreign acts of aggression”.

Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran has “no limits” in defending its interests and called for the UN Security Council to condemn Israel for the attacks.

But late on Saturday, Iran’s military issued a carefully worded statement suggesting any ceasefire in Israel’s ground offensives in Gaza and Lebanon would trump any possible retaliatory strike.